The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-25
The Right of it.

ates announcing that they will not enter
Senatorial caucus, and dwell upon tie
of such a plan. Our
Staunton neighbour contends that the
choice of Senator is the central issue OF
the campaign-that upon all other ques-
tions the Democratic party is planted
squarely upon the Republican platform,
and, as we have shown elsewhere, pledges
itself to carry out Republican policy
should it gain control OF the State. The
Dispatch contents itself with denying the
bosship of Barbour, whilst the I'ader- APP
peal regards the suggestion as impractical
BILE and as an assault upon Malone. Not
one of them undertakes to deny the f4g1t |
of the position we occupy. Not one OF |
them will assert that the election OF a |
Legislature chosen solely in the interest OF
the people and to carry out measures de-
manded by the public veal, would not be
an unmixed blessing to the State. All
must agree that Virginia has been cursed
by partizanism for score of years, and
that her pithble condition to-day Is the
legitimate result of ring rule, caucus die
tation and the determination TO subordl-
nate the rights and interests of the people
to the necessities of party. Legislators
are selected not because OF fitness to dis
charge the responsible duties OF law-ma-
kers. The ability tomanipulate primaries
and control conventions; to command pre-
cinct bosses and pull political wires, is
the test applied. The men SO qualified
are the chosen ones. They are corralled
in the caucus, and made the supple tools
of their shrewder brethren of the same
class. whose controlling aim is the en-
trenching of party, and a consequent re-
election. Every measure proposed is scru'
tinized. not with reference to the general
good of the State, but solely from a par
1izan stan droint, and as it may affect The
individual ambition of the majority OF
members. The law-making power is con-
vert, d INTO machine 10 sutserVe personal
ends. The interests of the masses are a.
together secondary. And it is under The
malipn influence of snch agencies that Inc
State has gotten deeper and deeper into
the mire each year, until to-day she stancs
on the very brink of ruin.
He is but an Indifferent observer OF
passing events who fails to discern The
evidences of deep and powerful under
current throughout Virginia. 1t is man
ifest not only in public meetings, such as
have recently been held by the farmers
and which DIT spite the rartlzan directo1
sought TO be given them bear evidence
of the spirit of Independence, but IN LEI
conversation of the individual cltlzfl
whenever public affairs come mp for DIS
cussion. Go among group OF mechanic
and laborers and mark the current OF thel
thoughts, Enter the counting room OF tn
business man or the store of the merchant
and listen as the CONVEX Satlon touches OF
matters political. Think you there IS no
unrest m the old State? These mutter
ings ale not meaningless. They are th
premonitory symptoms to the birth OF
Lew power in Virginia. awakenin
to-. the sense of individual responsible
ity. And they will not down at tn
behest of party. They Will grow ]
force and volume until the caus
whence they proceed is removed
The consciousness of wrongs endured; c
hardships imposed; of a subordination
material concerns to the fell spirit {
party; of the reckless waste OF the puoll
money and the reckless disregard OF tn
Inf dran
will yield an iron harvest. Changes
public opinion" says Macaulay, Xix
changes in the atmosphere that come
slowly and imperceptitly. make themselye
more and m0e widely felt, till. by sol
of silent sympath Thy. they spread to the II
hottest corners of the land" The ten
dency of the age is TO larger measure
personal liberty-a greater appreclatlo
of the strength of the individual. Slow
it may be, but surely, repressed manhoo
is beginning to realize its power and ii
dignity. The PROSTATE CULVER, boun
to the earth by the tiny yet numberles
threads of custom, turns reStlessly IN ri
slumbers as the light of the new day RED
dens the last. Already the pigmies that haV
held high carnival above him, see signs
the awakening, and in every direction o.
der their Lilliputian hosts to make fas
the strained ard swapping lashings, Bu
the long night will end at last; the grea
pulse will throb with conscious life, an
the drOwsy giant wake to the realizatlo
of his own power and of the indignit
heaped upon him.
Political bossism is thing OF the pas
in Virginia, and it were well to recognl2
it now. Men will 10 longer be content
do the bidding. without thought or que!
tion. of self-constituted leaders. The
must know the reason for their action, fo
they have found by hard, bitter expe
rience that if they fail to look to thel
own interests those interests must suffel
Independence of caucus is no new doc
trine TO our contemporaries mentlone
above. II we mistake not, each OF ther
applauded the stand recently taken b
Messrs. Randall, Coed. Wise and others
In published letters those gentlemen de
clared it would never do to submit tn
revenue question to the Democratic ION
eressional caucus. but that the fight mus
be waged on the floor of the House with
out regard to party lines. Ii it is not i'm
practicable to defy the caucus upon
measure laid down by the highest party au
thority-a National Convention-how can
be regarded as altogether unreasonable t
ignore the machine when there has bee
no party utterance, and where I'd
good of the party and the good ofthe stat
alike demand independent, manly action
But if there were no precedents, 1t is tim
a precedent should be made. 1t Will be
healthy innovation for Virginia. one whlc
will rebound to her good and prove bless
ing to her people. Eliminate the Senate
rial question from the next canvass-let
fair, square fight be made for the materla
upbuilding of the State. the blotting GU
of class legislation. and the enactment o
laws for the benefit of the masses-and n
well wisher of Virginia need fear the re
suit. Any other course will but serve T.
perpetuate the expressions which now or.
Afond for redress,